The mobile phone market is extremely competitive, there are hundreds of retailers all offering an array of different deals to try and get your business.
Often, you will see a better deal offered online than you are currently paying for.
Sometimes, when you call your network provider they will not offer you the same deals that are given to new customers. The “new customers only” routine often seems to apply, and, when this happens it is very frustrating.
The obvious solution is to check the comparison sites for the latest deals, and switch network, or take out a new contract with your existing network.
This is problematic as you need to time the new deal to commence with the expiration of the old, otherwise you will end up paying for two contracts.
The other issue is transferring your number to the new contract, again, this can be a bit if a nuisance.
If you do order a new contract, and then call your current provider to cancel your existing contract, you may find out, too late that they are actually able to offer you a better deal.
It is a little known fact that the “disconnections department” is known internally (within the phone company itself) as the “customer retention” department!
What you find time after time is that the first person you speak to about renewing your contract will not offer you anything over and above what is widely advertised, however, if you speak to “disconnections” otherwise known as “customer retention” it is a completely different ball game!
Customer retention will offer you things that are never advertised, some really great “under the counter deals”. For example, the last time I called Orange to cancel my contract, I was offered a “loyalty bonus” which gave me, not only a new handset, but a 40% discount on my monthly line rental!
In the past I have done this and got a better handset out of them.
These companies do want your business, and are keen to retain their customers, however, they are also trying to squeeze as much money out of you as they possibly can!
To that end, they do not advertise their best deals, and reserve them only for the most pushy bargain hunters!
If you rest on your laurels, then they will keep charging you the same amount year on year, however, if you take the time to push them you can make some big savings!
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